Tailpiece for string instruments



(No Model.)

D. O. SA'SSEMAN. TAILPIECE FOR STRING INSTRUMENTS.

Patented Feb. 16,1897.

DAVID C. SASSEMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TAILPIECE FOR STRING INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,177, dated February 16, 1897.

. Application filed September 17, 1896. Serial No. 606,166. (No model.)

To (all whom, it 72mm concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID C. SAssEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tailpieces for String Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in tailpieces for string instruments, and though especially designed for a mandolin it is applicable with equal advantage to other stringed instruments, such as guitars and banjos. Hitherto the metal crown portion of such tailpieces has been so flimsy and flexible as to yield under the pressure of the arm of the performerresting upon it, and thus be bent into contact with the strings, to the detriment of the tones emitted by them. Moreover, it has presented sharp edges to the coat-sleeve of the performer, upon which the garment was accordingly injured by fraying, and in the two-part or double variety of such tailpieces the connection between the outer or crown piece and the inner or bridge piece has been so insecure as to allow rattling.

More particularly, my invention is in the nature of an improvement in the two-part or double form of tailpiece for string instruments involving the crown and bridge pieces referred to; and my object is to overcome the objections enumerated as incidental to tailpieces as hitherto constructed.

The invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mandolin provided with my improvement; Fig. 2, a broken section taken at the line 2 on Fig. 1 and viewed as indicated by the arrow; Fig. 3, a perspective view of the bridge-piece Fig. i, a similar view of the crown-piece, presenting its inner side; and Fig. 5, a top view of the same.

A is the crown-piece, preferably of the form and design shown and comprising the top portion A and the back A*, depending there from substantially at a right angle, or at an angle to correspond with the instrument to which it is applied. The crown is provided with inwardly-projecting flanges s s, which meet at the angle, to afford a brace against further bending of the crown-piece. At its lower end the back A terminates in a hooksocket 4'.

In Fig. 3 is shown in perspective an outer view of the bridge-piece B. It is provided at its top with a forwardly-projecting flange p, at its sides with backwardly-projecting flanges not, having longitudinal ribs 11/, at its bottom with a hook 'm, corresponding with the hooksocket r, and on its rear face with clownwardly-projecting hooks Z, adapted to be engaged by loops of the strings. The bridge B is further provided with screw-holes 70, at which points it is attached to theinstrument, as by screws h.

' As shown in Fig. 2, the angle at which the crown-piece is bent should be such that the flange s will be free from contact with the strings, thus preserving the purity of their tones. \Vhen properly adjusted, freedom from contact is insured by the brace afforded by the flanges, as above described.

To apply myimproved tailpiece, the bridge- 7 5 piece 13 is screwed to the rear end of the instrument, and after fastening the strings in the usual manner the crown-piece is put in place by causing its hook-socket to register endwise with that on the bridge-piece and sliding it into hinged engagement with the latter, when the crown can be rotated upward and forced to place, the spring-flanges a being forced between the flanges 3, thus securely fastening the parts together and pre 8 5 venting rattling.

It will thus be seen that, among others, three especially important advantages are accomplished by this invention: first, in protecting the strings against pressure from the 0 crown-piece and preserving their purity of tone; second, the prevention of rattling of the parts, and, third, the production of a surface which will not injure the garment of the performer.

hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v 1. In a tailpiece for string instruments, the combination of the crown-piece having a downward-extendin g back provided with lat- 10o eral clamp-flanges and with a hook-socket at its end, and a bridge-piece provided on its body with hooks for looping the strings thereon and with lateral spring clamping-jaws to engage said back-flanges and terminating at one end in a hook-socket to engage With the hook-socket on said back, substantially as described.

2. In a tailpiece for string instruments, the combination of the crown-piece, having a back provided with lateral clamp-flanges and with a hook-socket at its end, and a bridgepieee provided on its body with hooks for looping the strings thereon and with lateral spring-clamps having longitudinal ridges to engage said back-flanges and terminating at one end in a hook-socket to engage With the hook-socket on said back, substantially as described.

23. I11 a tailpiece for string instruments, the combination of a crown-piece comprising the top A provided with a flange s and the backpiece A having lateral flanges s and provided at its lower end with a hook-socket- 1, said flanges meeting to form a brace for the top as shown, a bridge-piece 13 provided on its body with hooks Z for loops of the strings, at its sides with backward-prejecting flanges n, pro- Vided with ridges '22" extending .longitudim'llly thereof, at its top with a forWard-projeeting flange or bridge 2) and at its lower end with a hook in adapted to engage the hook-socket '7', and means for securing the bridgepieee to the instrument, all combined to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

DAVID C. SASSENAN.

In presence ol' J. 1i. LEE, M. J. Fnosir. 

